Protecting Consumer Choice
Personal freedom – including the right to make our own decisions about what we eat and drink – is a fundamental American value. That’s why Americans across the political spectrum have rejected more than 40 proposals to restrict, tax or otherwise limit beverage choices.
We believe in personal choice and personal responsibility. We believe our customers make the best decisions for themselves and their families. We oppose efforts to tax or to insert government regulation on items like soda in America's grocery carts.
There’s a better way to solve complex public health challenges: expanding – not restricting – choices along with clear, transparent information. And America’s beverage companies are leading the way by delivering the choices consumers want and the information they need to make the best decisions for their families. We have transformed the beverage aisle to provide choices, clear information and smaller portion sizes. And today, 60% of the beverages Americans buy have zero sugar or calories – up from 49.5% a decade ago.
We all want a healthier America. Let’s work together on meaningful solutions to make this a reality.
Protecting SNAP Beverage Choice
Millions of Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help feed their families. They deserve the same freedom to choose the foods and beverages that best fit their needs.
Restricting products – like soda – from SNAP won’t make anyone healthier or save a $1 in taxpayer spending, whether SNAP costs today or healthcare costs tomorrow. Instead, restrictions will only grow government bureaucracy and costs while creating a slippery slope to government deciding “good” and "bad” foods.
The fact is beverages are not driving obesity and chronic disease in America. The data shows that while obesity rates remain high, beverage calories per serving are down significantly.
Opposing Efforts to Tax Soft Drinks
Beverage taxes hurt working families, small local businesses, and their employees by raising prices dramatically on hundreds of everyday grocery items. Beverage taxes do not just tax soda: they tax hundreds of items in the grocery aisle, including sports drinks, juice drinks, lemonades, iced teas, energy drinks, coconut water, kombucha, flavored waters, and even fountain drinks.
These taxes place a larger share of the tax burden on the people least capable of paying it, and are not the solution to closing a budget deficit. Rising costs have hurt working families and neighborhood businesses - now is not the time to increase taxes.